Itching Ears and Civil Religion (by Joel Rainey)

By Joel Rainey, Pastor of Covenant Church, Shepherdstown, West Virginia

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” Paul, 2 Timothy 4:3

As a young seminary student, every time I heard this passage expounded upon in a chapel service, it was nearly always applied to theological liberalism. I was preparing for ministry during the latter period of my denomination’s “conservative resurgence,” a time when the authority of Biblical truth was threatened with compromise, and a time when we were repeatedly warned by visiting speakers to be vigilant. After all, there would be those I would preach to as a pastor each Sunday who would not appreciate my devotion to the whole counsel of God–those who might even walk out in protest, and find another church home with another pastor who would tell them what they wanted to hear.

In those same days, Jack Graham had recently moved from Florida to be the new pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, and Robert Jeffress was burning books in Witchita Falls. I would never imagine that 20 years later, I’d be reading this passage and thinking first of them.

Yet, this was the passage that came to mind as I read a Wall Street Journal article yesterday, describing these two men–alongside a few others–threatening to pull their church’s financial support of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. The ERLC is the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention–speaking to Southern Baptists to help them best express their faith in the public square, and to some extent also speaking for Southern Baptists and representing our doctrinal distinctives and social concerns to leadership in Washington, D.C.

For several years, I was on record advocating the elimination of this entity, which by 2011 had become little more than a Republican Party echo chamber. I saw the $4 million given in support of this entity annually as better invested in missionary work abroad. But in 2013, the ERLC trustees named Russell Moore as their new President. Moore represented a new generation of Baptist ethics that while holding firmly to historic Christian faith–and subsequently deeply entrenched views on some important social issues–nevertheless presented itself as “above” the fray of partisanship. Under his leadership, our commitment to protect unborn children hasn’t moved an inch, but our “pro-life” position has been more holistically applied to minorities, women, the poor, the immigrant, and the refugee.

Full disclosure: Russ is an old friend and former seminary classmate whom I have always respected and admired. But it was his leadership at the ERLC that restored my faith in the purpose of that entity. And it was that consistent leadership on moral issues that made him a sharp critic of Donald Trump as a Presidential candidate–criticism that called into question the apparent hypocrisy of so many public Christian leaders who threw their support behind a man whose lifestyle stood in sharp contrast to the Biblical description of righteousness. Once Mr. Trump became the Republican nominee, most evangelical Christians understood that hard decisions were in front of them, and respected each other even when sometimes coming to different conclusions regarding what one should do when arriving in the voting booth. But Moore’s constant reminders that the public support and unbridled advocacy of Trump by Christian leaders was a bridge too far was enough to ruffle the feathers of those supporters, including Robert Jeffress, who later said that any Christian who didn’t vote for Trump was a “mamby pamby, panty-waisted, weak-kneed, hypocritical fool.”

Now, the same guy who lashed out in this way is joined by others who claim Moore was “disrespectful.”

Pot, meet kettle.

What we are witnessing now among too many evangelical pastors is a regurgitated form of Zealotism that seeks to curry favor with power, even if obtaining that cultural favor makes us appear to the culture as just another interest group rather than representatives of a higher Kingdom (2 Corinthians 5:20). And when zealotism is mixed with theology, the result is a really ugly baby called civil religion.

And in this case, civil religion means orthodoxy is determined by the mob. Louisiana Baptist Executive David Hankins expresses this view accurately when he stated that the issues surrounding Moore are the result of “disagreement with a large majority of his constituents.” Until reading this, it never occurred to me that in a denomination supposedly committed to the absolute truth and authority of Scripture, “he isn’t saying what we want to hear” would, by itself, be sufficient grounds for a heresy trial.

And what about the historic Baptist principle of dissent? Healthy exchanges during disagreement aren’t always comfortable, and they can sometimes even be offensive, but they are an excellent way to arrive at the truth, provided we are listening both to the Holy Spirit and each other. Without this, “group-think” infects us like cancer, and healthy congregational environments turn into toxic “democracies.”

And that sets a horrible example for our churches. Years ago while leading a local Baptist Association, I moderated a very painful business meeting, the end of which was punctuated by the resignation of a faithful pastor. Pressured by a group within the church to whom he said things they didn’t want to hear, he finally had all he could take, and left.

My next meeting with church leadership was for the purpose of charting a course of congregational healing and restoration, but the leaders wouldn’t have it. “Why,” I asked, “wouldn’t you want to try to make things right? You are at odds with your brothers and sisters and the unity of this body is threatened. Why not make attempts to reconcile?”

The answer from one of the men still haunts me to this day. “Because we won,” he said.

I have yet to hear anyone successfully challenge the truthfulness of anything Russ Moore said this election season. I have only heard that he was “disrespectful” and didn’t say what others wanted to hear. Those making those claims “won.” The candidate they championed will move into the White House on January 20. So why keep fighting? Is it guilt? It is shame? Or could it be that their candidate rubbed off a little too much? Nothing is worse than a sore loser–except perhaps, a sore winner who doesn’t feel they have been “congratulated” enough.

Jack Graham, Robert Jeffress, David Hankins, William Harrell and others need to knock it off. Stop pretending that the ERLC should somehow be punished because its President was more faithful than them in the proclamation of Biblical righteousness.

As it turns out, preachers sometimes have itching ears too.

__________________________

Note: This post also appeared at the North Carolina Baptist Recorder’s site, BRNow.org. As they say there, “Joel Rainey is lead pastor at Covenant Church in Shepherdstown, W.Va. This post first appeared on his blog, joelrainey.blogspot.com.” The post also appears here with the permission of the author.

Thank your Alan and Joel for sharing this well written post. It is time us namby-pamby hypocrites stood up and were counted.

December 22, 2016 1:23 am

Steve Potts

Thank you Joel. I am a SBC pastor in Alabama and I agree with your article strongly.

December 22, 2016 1:44 am

Debbie Kaufman

“Jack Graham, Robert Jeffress, David Hankins, William Harrell and others need to knock it off. Stop pretending that the ERLC should somehow be punished because its President was more faithful than them in the proclamation of Biblical righteousness.”

Yes.

December 22, 2016 5:34 am

Tiffany Long

Wrong. Are they not entitled to the same right to state things as Dr. Moore? What they are doing is no different, except that they are saying their conscience will not allow them to give money to an organization that members of their congregation. Many of these churches have members speaking up and some of the pastors agree. Perhaps some already thought the ERLC was obsolete. Perhaps some are acting in their own conscience. Perhaps they are just retaliating. We will have to wait and see as more details come forward. What I do know is that Russell Moore spoke with a bullhorn as the head of an organization. Like it or not, that reflects on the organization as a whole. It is right to questions how his beliefs drive the policy of the ERLC, especially when the Trump issue isn’t the only one that many of the troubled churches has disagreed with in recent months.

I hear lots of talk on here by people presenting on side of this match. It would be nice to hear why some of those who wish Dr. Moore to resign feel as though they do, instead of speculating why the do.

Opinions are like Zits – most have some but they are not worth much. Dr. Rainey has nailed it. Those he references in this excellent piece offer ‘opinions’ but no substantial exegesis to validate their criticism of Dr. Moore.

Shame on those individuals that put politics and a lust for ‘power’ over Truth.

December 22, 2016 5:59 am

absonjourney

This article is brilliant. Hits the nail on the head. Correctly identifies the problem and the problem causers. Most importantly identifies the most crucial issue that has been roundly celebrated by Moore’s detractors- he doesn’t say what we want him to say.

Well boo hoo. When you advocate for positions and people who don’t line up with scripture and claim to represent God you deserve to be called out and corrected. The hope is you will repent.

Good words Joel.

December 22, 2016 8:29 am

Bill Mac

This was pointed out in another post, but where have Southern Baptists as a whole spoken clearly as to what they believe regarding social issues? The answer is: nowhere, but the closest they come is in the form of SBC annual meeting resolutions. Can anyone show me that Moore has been less faithful to the spirit and letter of SBC resolutions since the CR than Falwell, Jeffress and Graham, regarding this election?

This is a serious challenge to the Trumpites. Show me how how the full-throated Trump supporters in the SBC have been more faithful to the official voice of the SBC than Moore.

December 22, 2016 8:39 am

Adam Blosser

This is excellent in every way.

December 22, 2016 8:41 am

Tarheel

Excellent article.

“Louisiana Baptist Executive David Hankins expresses this view accurately when he stated that the issues surrounding Moore are the result of “disagreement with a large majority of his constituents.” Until reading this, it never occurred to me that in a denomination supposedly committed to the absolute truth and authority of Scripture, “he isn’t saying what we want to hear” would, by itself, be sufficient grounds for a heresy trial.”

Yes!

December 22, 2016 9:05 am

Bill Mac

Just as an experiment, compare the Twitter feeds of Falwell, Jeffress, Huckabee, and Moore. Which one has the most class, the most pro-Christian, the most pro-life, and the least self-aggrandizing messages? It isn’t even close.

December 22, 2016 9:11 am

Tyler

Are we not going to talk about how a pastor used the phrase “Mamby pamby, panty-waisted?” I mean, if you’re going to slander someone I expect better adjectives than that….especially if you have a PhD.

Flesh & blood did not reveal this unto you, but The Father which is in heaven. Your’s is a mic drop article. Deeply appreciative for what you’ve so adequately & eloquently articulated here. May The Lord bless you for your labor in writing this. It was sorely needed.

December 22, 2016 9:26 am

Mike Richardson

Does anyone find it interesting that the heart of the tensions that are bubbling up right now in the SBC are being argued with the same populist tactics and methods that Trump himself used? I keep reading from the so called “Traditionalists” and pro-Trumpers “The majority of rank and file SBC pastors and members agree with us”.
I guess they could be going off of election results, but I am a rank and file SBC pastor and I am very pleased with the direction of the ERLC and the leadership of the SBC.

December 22, 2016 10:00 am

Bill Mac

Mike,
That’s a great point. It’s easy to say you are in the majority as long as there is absolutely no way it can be disproven.

Threatening to withhold funds to the cooperative program for political reasons is a long standing time honored tradition in the SBC among elite pastors. I remember when Jimmy Draper said his church would have to consider decreasing their cooperative program giving unless Charles Stanley was elected SBC president.

December 22, 2016 10:32 am

volfan007

Joel, if I said to you that “i don’t agree with your view on not voting for Trump. I love and respect your opinion. But, I just can’t see why you won’t vote for Trump, if it will mean that a pro abortion, pro homosexual agenda, liberal like Clinton will win and be President. I want to encourage you to pray and rethink your position on voting for Trump. But, I know everyone will have to pray about it, and vote their conscience;” could you take my disagreement with you pretty good?

But, what if I said it like this, “I can’t see how any truly saved, born again Christian could not vote for Trump. I think all of you, who don’t vote for Trump are on the wrong side of Jesus. You’re ruining the Christian witness of the Church in America, if you let Hillary win. You’re just compromising your faith, and bowing down to the god of the liberals.” How would most people take a statement like that? Full of such abrasive, strong rhetoric?

Sometimes, it’s not what was said, as much as the way it was said. And, the way it was said, and was said over and over and over and over; almost non stop.

Anyway, I’m not in this fight. I don’t want to be in this fight. I refuse to enter into it. I don’t like some of the things that Moore has said, and the way that he’s said it. I don’t always agree with him. And, I’ll say it when I think I need to. But, I’m not in this fight. But, I just wanted to shed a little light on why so many are not happy with Moore. I mean, when we use strong rhetoric, and we blast other people, you’ve got to expect pushback. I know that firsthand. There’s been times when my rhetoric went over the top, in order to try to make my point. And, I experienced a lot of pushback. A lot.

May God give us peace in the SBC…..real, true peace…not one group winning and putting the losers in the back of the room…..but, real, true peace between Brothers, where we sincerely love and respect each other.

David,
This is a really good comment and I appreciate it. At the end of the day we will likely disagree on Dr. Moore and this whole situation. And I was (and am) definitely in the #NeverTrump camp, but you have articulated very well why many have their feelings hurt and are upset with Moore and feel demeaned by his rhetoric. We would do well to listen and consider what you are saying here and not too quickly dismiss it or go into defense mode. Thank you.

December 22, 2016 11:08 am

Joel Rainey

Love you David, and though we disagree, we pray for the same peace. Merry Christmas!

December 22, 2016 11:25 am

cb scott

Well stated, Brother.

December 22, 2016 11:31 am

cb scott

I should have written, “Well stated, Brother Vol.” Because I now need to write, “Well stated” to Joel Rainey also.

December 22, 2016 11:35 am

cb scott

I continue to believe the call for Dr. Moore’s termination as head of the ERLC has far more to do with soteriological predispositions than it does for anything he said or did not say during the recent electoral process for POTUS.

Do I believe he made some errors during the electoral process? Yes I do. I have already expressed what I believe those errors to have been. Do I believe he has realized he made some errors during the electoral process? Yes I do. Do I think his apology for those errors to be genuine? Yes I do. I think that because he is an honorable man. Do I believe he has learned from the whole process? Yes I do. I believe that because he is a principled man, an intelligent man, a Spirit controlled man, and a teachable man. I believe it is highly possible that his best days as the head of the ERLC are ahead of him if he is allowed to stand his post.

The major reason I continue to believe the call for his termination as head of the ERLC has far more to do with soteriological predispositions is because many of the same SBC personalities who are now crying for his head are the same people who were either highly verbal in defense or strangely silent during the openly shameful and immoral conduct of former presidents of Baptist entities, Joe Aguillard and Ergun Caner. Both men have been outspoken critics of Calvinists in the SBC.

I was amazed as I read the comment thread of a post on Connect 316 wherein Ergun Caner made comments critical of Moore’s leadership of a Baptist because he “is a Calvinist.” That was simply amazing.

Think of it. Let that sink in for a second: Ergun Caner criticizing Russ Moore’s leadership of a Baptist entity “because he is a Calvinist.” . . . and because Russ Moore is “arrogant.”

Think about that for a moment and then tell me the call for Russ Moore’s termination as head of the ERLC has nothing to do with the broadening gulf between Calvinists and Non-Calvinists in the Southern Baptist Convention.

CB is right on this. Bill Harrell is on record several years ago against SBTS and SEBTS because of Calvinism. I don’t know where graham comes in on the anticalvinist movement.

I’d supplement my retirement income if I could get bets on how there would not be the same opposition to Moore if he wasn’t identified with Mohler and the Calvinists.

This anti-Moore movement is red meat for the 316 crowd who have long complained about him.

I think the ERLC is overfunded. Moore is an improvement as leader.

December 22, 2016 11:39 am

Steve Potts

I really hope this isn’t the case, but perhaps it is. If this is the “real” motivation behind opposition to Dr. Moore than that is truly discouraging and shameful. How are Dr. Moore’s criticisms of Trump connected to the Calvinism debate in anyway? Aren’t there “traditionalists” who opposed Trump?

December 22, 2016 12:50 pm

Tarheel

Because the anti-Calvinist crowd – Connect 316 –want to remove him from leadership within the ethics and religious liberty commission in hopes of replacing him with one of their own … Because they perceive him to be part of the other team. Everything to them is about forwarding anti-Calvinism by systematically working to take out whoever is viewed as being Calvinist or even attached to Al Mohler.

They tried it with Russell Moore when he first took over – didn’t work – then they moved to David Platt when he had to do some terribly difficult work to right the ship financially at the IMB – that didn’t work either – now they’re back at Moore.

yes cb, agreed…it is just a convenient time to ring the bell. Russ Moore’s stepping over the fence into the political pile just drew more convenient attention.

The tougher thing for most pastors in this election season is to discuss the presidential campaign over coffee with a deacon suspected of being out back smoking during the preaching service, or someone imagining they saw a Bud Light in his refrigerator at the Christmas party. Even though Trump doesn’t consume alcohol, the deacon may get the benefit of the doubt.

Volfan we still have no idea what Trump will do when it comes to stopping abortion. We do know that in the past he has supported abortion rights and planned parenthood. Here is why I did not vote for Trump.

I am the same age as Donald Trump. I remember when the POWs returned from Vietnam the joy they and we felt at their release. Many had spent years undergoing torture but remained loyal to the US and their responsibility as Military POWs. They were true American heroes and recognized as such by our nation. However, Donald Trump says these men are NOT HEROES! He prefers those who were not captured. How can anyone who respects our military and honors those who have served not demand that Trump apologize for these this attack on our POWs.

Donald Trump in his book The Art of the Deal has bragged about his adultery with married women. We have all heard him brag that because he is a star he can grab women in their private body parts in a sexually aggressive way. Several women have come forward to confirm that he was telling the truth. If a normal person did these disgusting things, they would be charged with molestation and be forced to register as a sex offender. For Donald Trump supporters, this is just the way a good ole boy does things.

Donald Trump has had two goals that have guided his life, making money and having sex with as many women has he can. He did this by owning casinos and strip clubs, cheating people out of their money at Trump University and cheating on his wives by sleeping with other women. As a Christian, I am thankful that Jesus Christ died for my sins and I have asked Him for forgiveness for the many times I have sinned and he has saved me. When asked if he had anything to ask God’s forgiveness for, Donald Trump said no. In other words, Christ life and death are meaningless to him.

December 22, 2016 12:14 pm

cb scott

“When asked if he had anything to ask God’s forgiveness for, Donald Trump said no. In other words, Christ life and death are meaningless to him.”

Ron West,

I hope that the reason Mr. Trump said he “had nothing to ask forgiveness for” is because, like many, his is yet a biblically and theologically illiterate person. Not unlike me before God saved me.

But, for you to state, “Christ life and death are meaningless to him” might be somewhat too strong, ya think maybe?

December 22, 2016 12:27 pm

Tarheel

CB, don’t forget when Trump spoke of going to church and “getting his little cracker and cup of wine”….

You yourself said “… Until God saved me.” That’s implying that Trump is an unbeliever.

Therefore, being unregenerate – The life, death, and resurrection of Christ is in fact meaningless to him.

December 22, 2016 12:38 pm

cb scott

Tarheel,

I meant that the death and resurrection of Christ had meaning to me, even though I did not yet recognize Him and His atonement for me. I was trying to make the same statement regarding Mr. Trump. I did not communicate my point very well.

Please understand; I don’t think Mr. Trump to be a born-again person. I do pray he becomes one. I pray the same for the current POTUS.

December 22, 2016 2:08 pm

Volfan007

I was not talking about whether Trump should be elected or not. My point really had nothing to do with Trump.

CB what I meant was he did not consider it to have meaning if he did not think he had anything to ask forgiveness for. I know many people like that and they are lost until the recognize the necessity for Christ’s death for their sins as well as yours and mine. Of course it has meaning for all of us if we will only admit it and accept it.

December 22, 2016 3:17 pm

Bill Mac

One of the clearest examples of the marriage between the SBC and the Republican party can be found by watching (at least the beginning) of Todd Starnes (a Fox News guy) Christmas show hosted by a Bellevue Baptist, the church pastored by our president. In the spirit of the season Todd comes out at the beginning and proceeds to mock all university student, among others. I’m sure those involved in campus ministry, working hard to win university students to Christ are tickled pink to hear those they are trying to win denigrated on TV and radio from one of our biggest churches.

December 26, 2016 7:39 am

Tarheel

I am going to sound like a fuddy duddy or something here –

but I cannot for the life of me understand why the public reading (or dramatic presentation) of the actual scriptures relating to the advent of Christ along with the corporate singing of a few actual Christmas Carols have become somehow not enough, and we must have big and huge well produced presentations designed to entertain more that help us reflect and worship….I think we forget that sometimes simple is the most profound…you know simple, yet profound, like the birth of a baby….

Just my opinion.

(I actually did not see the above mentioned “Christmas Show” so I am not speaking directly about it…just more of a general statement.)

December 26, 2016 11:31 am

Bill Mac

I only watched a few minutes. After he used a celebration, purportedly about the birth of the Savior, as an occasion to insult a substantial portion of American citizens, from the stage of a Baptist church, I stopped watching. Sometimes the world dislikes us because of our bold witness for the Truth. Sometimes it dislikes us because we can be jerks.